Why Does God Allow Evil and Suffering?

Frequently Asked Questions

If God is a God of love, why is there so much evil and suffering in the
world?

Does Satan have authority over the world?

Why does God allow abuse and torture of innocent children?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Did God create evil, or does He just allow it?

Are natural disasters caused by God or Satan?

Is it good to suffer?

Introduction

The reasons why a loving God would allow so much evil in the world are a mystery
and a stumbling block to faith for many people. Why do good people sometimes suffer
terribly while evil people live lives of ease? These are very difficult things to
understand, but the Bible does give some clues.

Physical Evil

Illness, pain, earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters are examples of
physical evils. God may use physical evil to chastise individuals or nations
and lead them to repent (Isaiah 45:7, Genesis 6:13, Acts 13:9-11). Some physical
evil may be the result of the original sin of
Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:6, Romans 5:12-14).

God may use physical evil for a higher purpose: to test us and prepare us for
glory (1 Peter 1:6-7, 5:10, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9), or to make us more compassionate
(2 Corinthians 1:3-6). The suffering we endure now will be more than compensated
by the glory of eternal life (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Philippians 1:21-23). Physical
evil is one means God uses to accomplish His work on earth (John 9:1-3). It is very
difficult to see any value in pain, suffering, loss of a loved one, disability,
etc. However, these temporary evils are insignificant on the time scale of eternity,
and they may just be a testing and preparation for better things to come.

Despite all this, the reason for most physical evil is simply unknown to us.
Sometimes, we just have to put our trust in God and accept the fact that we can't
understand why we have to suffer (Psalms 23:4, 31:7, Lamentations 3:31-33):

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares
the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher
than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts." (NAS, Isaiah 55:8-9 )

God gives all of us the free will to choose between good or evil, and many choose to follow the ways of
evil (James 1:13-15). Unfortunately,
when some people choose the path of evil, others may suffer as a result. However, in
eternity, the righteous will be rewarded and the evildoers will be punished. (Luke 16:19-31,
Romans 6:23).

Satan, with his powers of temptation and deception, may be indirectly responsible
for moral evils. But that does not excuse those people who allow themselves to fall
under Satan's influence (Matthew 18:7-9, 26:41, Mark 9:42-48, Luke 17:1-2). Satan
may also cause some physical evils (Job 2:3-7).

Is Suffering God's Punishment for Sin?

It is wrong to assume that someone who suffers is being punished for his or her
sins or those of an ancestor (Job 1:1, 1:13-22, John 9:1-3). In Biblical times,
many people believed that someone who was poor or suffering was being punished by
God for sins. Conversely, wealth was believed to be a sign of God's favor. But Jesus'
Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) emphatically shows those beliefs
to be wrong: The selfish rich man ended up in hell, but the poor beggar Lazarus
ended up in heaven.

Did God Create Evil, or Does He Just Allow It?

Although God may sometimes use physical evils to accomplish His purposes,
the Bible says that God does not cause sin or moral evils (James 1:13-15,
1 John 3:2-6, 2 Thessalonians 3:3). Jesus said the cause of sin is within the human
mind:

... “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For
from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality,
theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander,
pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what
defile you.” (NLT, Mark 7:20-23)

... for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every child
whom he accepts.” Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating
you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline?
(NRSV, Hebrews 12:6-7)

However, there is no value in suffering for its own sake. Although we should
patiently endure suffering when it comes, nothing in the Bible says we should seek
suffering or martyrdom (Psalms 16:11, Romans 15:13).